The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-24

they will not listen to them. They are all ont
family With yours, and you can depend upor
them"
II know it, Zermah, and trust to them
Burbank returned to the house. The moment
came; he bid farewell to his wife. his daughter
and Alice. He promised them to do nothing te
provoke the magistrates to violence. He would
be sure to come back that night He bid every
body good bye and left them Certainly James
Burbank had much fear for himself; but there
much to be feared for those no left al Castle
House.
Stannard and Carol went with him to the
landing place at the end of the avenue. There
he gave them his last instructions; and with a
beautiful breeze from the southwest. the boat
rapidly left the pier of Candles Bay
An hour afterward, about 10 o'clock, Bur-
bank landed at Jacksonville. The quay was
then deserted. There were only q few sailors dis
charging the cargoes OF the dogger-boats. He
was not recognized: his arrival was not an
nounced at ali, and he was able to cross to the
end of the harbor and call TO one Of his friends.
Mr.. Harvey.
Mr. Harvey was much surprised and uneasy
at seeing him. He had not thought that he
would have obeyed the order to present himself
at the court. In the town it was not thought
that he would. AS to who had been the cause of
the order being given, Mr.. Harvey did not know.
Probably, with view to satisfy public opinion,
the magistrates were going to ask him TO explain
his conduct since the beginning of the war, par
ticularly with regard to his slaves. Perhaps
they were going to keen the richest federal
farmer as hostage. Would 1t not have been
better have stopped at Candles Bay! So
nobody knew he had come!
Burbank had not come merely to go back
again. He wished to know what it all
about, and he would know.
Some very interesting questions as to the
state of affairs generally were then put by him
to his correspondent.
Has the authorities been replaced by the ring
leaders of the mob.
Not yet, but their position had become preca-
rious.
Had the Spaniard Texar any hand in the pop
ular movement that was about to take places
Yes. He was looked upon the leader of
the advanced slave holding party in Florida. He
and his companions would probably soon be mas
tiers of the town.
Has the last news from the war been con-
firmed?
1t had been The organization of the South
ern States had just been completed. On the ed
of February the government had been definitely
formed, with jefferson Davis as President. and
Stephens as Vice president, and they had been
invested with powers for six years Congress,
composed of two houses, had assembled at Rich
mond. Jefferson Davis, three days before, had
ash ed for compulsory service Since then the
confederates had had a few successes of no
great Importance. On the Gath, an important
detachment of McCleIlans had crossed the Upper
evacuated Columbus. a great battle was immi-
nent on the Mississippi between them and the
army of General Grant
And how about the squadron that Dupont was
to bring to the mouth of the ST. Johns!
Rumors were afoat that in ten days it would
attempt to force the passes. If Texar and his
the town into their hands time was TO be
lost.
Such was the state of affairs at Jacksonville,
and who could tell il the Burbank incident
would not hasten the catastrophe
When the time came for him to appear. James
Burbank left his friends house and walked to
ment in the streets. The people we're crowding
toward the court. It seemed though the
case, though it might be of little Importance in
itself, would bring about rising that might
deDiOraOle consequences
The square was full of people. mostly of tn
poorer whites. half breeds and negroes. Natu-
rally they were noisy. II those who could OBJ
tain admission to the court were few, a good
many of Texars partisans would nevertheless
be there. With them would be sprinking of
aw-abdng citizens opposed to such act of
Injustice, but it would be difficult for them to-
withstand the party bent on removing the
thorities OF Jacksonville
AS Burbank appeared in the square
he was recognized. A loud shouting arose: and
it was not IN his favor. A few courageous citi-
zens surroun d 3D. him. having no intention that
an honorable and much respected man should
be exposed to the brutalities of the mob. In
obeying the summons he had received Burbank
had shown his dignity and decision OF character.
and his doing worthy of recognition. He
was thereforaable to make his way across the
square. He feached the door OF the court,
tered, and stopped at the bar to which he had
been so unjustly summoned.
The chief magistrate of the town and his as
sistants were already on the bench. They were
moderate reasonable men. The menaces and re-
ordinations TO which they had been subject ever
since the outbreak of tho war may be INA gined.
To remain at their posts required no little cour-
age and energy. 1t was only because the slave
question caused less excitement in Florida than
in the other States OF the South that they had
been able to withstand the attacks of the turbu-
lent party Secessionist ideas were, however,
making way; and with them the influence of the
lower classes and adventurous vagaboncs daily
increased; and it was to satisfy public opinion,
to a certain extent under the pressure Of the
more violent agitators, that the magistrates had
decided TO summon James Burbank, on informa-
ton given by one Of their leaders-the Spaniard
TeXar.
The murmur-of appreciation from one side,
of disapprobation from another-which greeted
the proprietor of Candies Bay he entered
the court subsidized. Erect, with the daunt-
lets look of that had never failed, he did
not even wait for the magistrate to ask him the
usual questions, but in firm voice he said:
You asked for James Burbank. James Bur-
bank is before you"
After the first formalities to which Burbank
very briefly, he said:
''Of what am l accused ;"
''Of opposing by word, and probably by deed,
such ideas and hopes now held by the ma
jority in Florida
And who is my aecuser?"
Il am"
1t was Texar. Burbank recognized his voice.
He did not even turn his head; he contented
himself with struggling his shoulders in token of
his contempt for his accuser.
On the other hand, Texar's partisans encour-
aged their leader by voice and gesture.
And in the first place" said he, II tell James
Burbank to his face that he is q Northerner! His
presence at Jacksonville, in a Confederate State
is standing insult. He is Northerner at heart
and by birth; why has he not gone back to the
North?'
~ am in Florida" replied Burbank, because
il suits TO there, l have lived in the country
for twenty years If l was not born in it you |
know at least where came from; and that is
more than you can say for those whose past is
unknown. and who live not in the light of day. |
and whose private life ought TO be inquired into /
nuch more than mine"
Although this direct attack on Texar |
be made align.
"What next ?" asked Burbank.
Next" said the Spanard," when the country /
mas risen for the maintenance of slavery, and |
s ready to shed its blood repuse the federal
troops, l accuse James Burbank of being an
ti-slavery man, and the head of an anti-slavery
propaganda"
James Burbank" said the magistrate '.n
the circumstances in which we placed, you
gill understand that this L. Of al